An Optical Illusion

And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, gave thanks, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds… And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:19, 21)

As a minister, I saw something happening during worship which fascinated me.

CONSIDER how when a congregation is seated, the empty seats are quite noticeable and our numbers seem small. But when the congregation stands to sing the Doxology or receive the Benediction, the empty pews do not show and our numbers seem to increase. An optical illusion?

As Jesus divided the five loaves and two fish into food for 5,000 with twenty baskets of broken pieces left over, I can hear the skeptics in the front row say, “Just an optical illusion!” But I wonder how that “optical illusion” tasted.

When we stand up, especially alongside someone, we are indeed more. Whenever we rise up to right a wrong, march arm and arm with friends for a noble cause, whenever we stand up to be counted, then we are more!

To some it may just seem to be happening and explain it away as an optical illusion, but to others it’s for real and may be explained as one of those things everybody complains about not seeing anymore: a miracle.

Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and soul and mind and strength, To serve the King of Kings.